Motor vehicle

ABSTRACT

A motor vehicle includes a body, a side door hinged to the body so that it can rotate about an axis towards a side of the motor vehicle between a closed configuration and an open configuration; a motorized opening device, which is controllable to move the door from the closed configuration towards the open configuration; command receiving means to receive an opening request command for the door from the outside of the motor vehicle; and a control unit (ECU) configured to control the opening device so that the door rotates from the closed configuration towards the open configuration in response to the opening request command.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority from Italian patent applicationno. 102021000028820 filed on Nov. 12, 2021, the entire disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL SECTOR

The invention relates to a motor vehicle, for example a sports car, andmore specifically to a door thereof and to a relative door openingdevice.

PRIOR ART

As everybody knows, car doors are manually opened from the outsidethrough a door handle, which usually also includes a manual control, forexample a button or a lever, to unlock a lock of the door.

Generally speaking, known motor vehicles need to be improved, inparticular by increasing door opening comfort, when the door has to beopened from the outside of the motor vehicle, though withoutjeopardizing the safety of the motor vehicle in case of theft and of thepeople or objects surrounding the motor vehicle.

The object of the invention is to fulfil the need discussed above,preferably in a simple and effective fashion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Said object is reached by a motor vehicle as defined in claim 1.

The dependent claims define particular embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described, in orderto allow the latter to be better understood, by way of non-limitingexample and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a motor vehicle according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 shows, on a larger scale, a detail of the motor vehicle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 a is a further perspective view of an area of the motor vehiclecomprising a door portion, in particular shown in an open presenterconfiguration;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are further perspective views of the door, in a closed andopen configuration respectively, specifically completely open.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1 , reference number 1 is used to indicate, as a whole, a motorvehicle.

The motor vehicle 1 comprises a body 2 and a plurality of side doors, inparticular a front side door 3 and a rear side door 4.

Each one of the doors 3, 4 is hinged to the body 2 so that it can rotatearound an axis towards a side of the vehicle, in particular the sameside where the doors 3, 4 are located, i.e. the side where a user U isshown in FIG. 1 . In other words, the axis is substantially vertical,meaning that the inclination of the axis relative to a verticaldirection could range, for example, from 0° to 30°.

In FIG. 1 , the doors 3, 4 are shown in a closed configuration. Each oneof the doors 3, 4 can rotate between the closed configuration and anopen configuration, for example a completely open configuration, like inFIG. 4 .

Hereinafter, for brevity reasons, reference will be made to only one ofthe doors 3, 4, specifically the door 4, assuming that the informationdisclosed below could be applied, alternatively or in addition, to thedoor 3.

The motor vehicle 1 comprises an opening device 5, schematically shownin FIG. 1 , to open the door 4.

The opening device 5 is motorized and is controllable to move the door 4from the closed configuration towards the open configuration.

Furthermore, the opening device 5 also is conveniently controllable toclose the door 4, namely to move the latter from the open configurationtowards the closed configuration.

In other words, the opening device 5 moves the door 4 in an autonomousmanner, namely without any intervention of the user U.

Besides the opening device 5, the motor vehicle 1 can also comprise alock device 6 controllable to lock the door 4 in the closedconfiguration and to further unlock the door 4 locked in the closedconfiguration. For example, the lock device 6 could be controlled by theuser U by means of a remote control not shown herein.

In order to operate the opening device 5, the motor vehicle 1 comprisesa command receiving device 7, which is configured to receive an openingrequest command for the door 4 from the outside of the motor vehicle 1.

Specifically, the device 7 comprise a member that be touched from theoutside of the motor vehicle 1, for example a lever, which is wellvisible in FIG. 2 . Alternatively, the touchable member could be abutton or even a touch-sensitive surface, for example of the capacitiveor inductive type or the like, or a heat-sensitive surface. Thetouchable member is preferably coupled to the body 2. Furthermore, thetouchable member conveniently is separate from the door 4.

Hence, in this case, the opening request command comes from the user U,who touches the device 7, as shown in FIG. 2 .

This is not limiting; as a matter of fact 7, the device could comprisean electromagnetic signal receiver. Therefore, the opening requestcommand could be an electromagnetic signal, for example emitted by anelectronic device, for example a remote control, a mobile phone and thelike, according to a corresponding command of the user U.

The motor vehicle 1 further comprises a control unit ECU coupled to thedevices 5, 7.

The control unit ECU is configured to control the opening device 5 inresponse to the opening request command received by the device 7, sothat the door 4 rotates from the closed configuration towards the openconfiguration.

The control unit ECU can also be configured to control the openingdevice 5 so that the door 4 rotates in the opposite direction, namelyfrom the open configuration towards the closed configuration, forexample based on a closing request command coming from a suitable devicenon shown herein and coupled to the control unit ECU.

More precisely, the control unit ECU control the opening device 5 sothat the door 4 reaches an intermediate configuration between theopen—in particular, completely open—configuration and the closedconfiguration.

This intermediate configuration is shown, in particular, in FIG. 2 a .The intermediate configuration is a presenter configuration or, bettersaid, an open presenter configuration, meaning that the door 4 isslightly open by an angle that is sufficient to expose to the user U theend 4 a opposite the hinged one.

More precisely, from the closed configuration to the intermediateconfiguration, the door 4 rotates by an angle ranging from 2° to 20°,preferably of 5°.

In other words, as shown in FIG. 2 a , the door 4 open in theintermediate configuration allows the user U to introduce a hand betweenthe body 2 and the door 4, so that the user U can manually push or grabthe door 4, more precisely the end 4 a. By so doing, the user U can movethe door 4 towards the open configuration.

In this way, the door 4 does not need any handle or graspable element,which allows the user U to move the door 4.

On the contrary, the door 4 externally lacks handles, graspable elementsor graspable portions designed to allow or make it easier for the userto grasp the door 4 and/or rotate the door 4 from the closedconfiguration towards the open configuration.

For example, the door 4 has an outer surface 4 b, which has noprotuberances or recesses of any kind, which allow the user U the graspthe door, specifically from the outside of the motor vehicle 1. The userU can only lay or press a palm of the hand against the surface 4 b. Onthe other hand, the user U cannot grab the door 4 and cannot introducethe fingers in a recess thereof.

The surface 4 b looks like a continuous surface without corners.Furthermore, the surface 4 b is continuous and flush with the body 2 orouter body of the motor vehicle 1.

The device 5 comprises a motor 10, for example an electric or hydraulicmotor, controllable by the control unit ECU. In fact, the motor 10 iscoupled to the control unit ECU. In other words, the motor 10 is aservo-motor.

The motor 10 could be a rotary motor or a linear motor.

In particular, the motor 10 comprises at least one casing or a portioncarried by the body 2 in a fixed position relative to the body 2.

Furthermore, the device 5 comprises a pushing assembly 11 operable bythe motor 10 to exert a thrust upon the door 4.

The pushing assembly 11 is conveniently carried by the body 2.

The pushing assembly 11 can be manufactured in many ways and can containone or more transmissions, kinematic mechanisms, gears, articulatedmechanisms designed to exert the thrust upon the door 4.

For example, the pushing assembly 11 could include a crank trainmechanism configured to convert a rotary motion of the motor 10 into atranslation motion exerting the thrust.

Furthermore, for example, the pushing assembly 11 could include one ormore speed reduction devices, such as gears or a transmission with aflexible drive member, in particular including one or more pulleys and,for example, a belt wound around the pulleys.

The thrust exerted by the assembly 11 is transversal, more preciselyorthogonal to the door 4. Furthermore, the assembly 11 exerts the thrustfrom the inside of the motor vehicle 1.

The thrust can be exerted both towards the outside and towards theinside of the motor vehicle 1, based on whether the device 5 is used toopen or close the door 4, respectively. In order to avoidmisunderstandings, the terms “open” and “close” mean moving the door 4towards the open and closed configuration, respectively.

The assembly 11 comprises at least one pushing portion 12, which ismovable, through translation, along a straight axis or direction A,specifically parallel to the forward moving direction of the motorvehicle 1 or parallel to the direction of extension of the door 4 in theclosed configuration.

The pushing portion 12 is carried by the body 2 in a movable manner,through translation, along the axis A. In other words, the portion isconstrained relative to the body 2 with at least one degree of freedomof translation relative to the body 2. Still in other words, the pushingportion 12 translates, namely relative to the body 2 along the axis A.

In particular, the axis A is fixed relative to the body 2.

Furthermore, the assembly 11 preferably comprises a transmission, forexample a crank train mechanism in case the motor 10 is a rotary motoror a straight rod in case the motor is a linear motor, configured totransmit an output of the motor 10, for example a torque or an outputspeed thereof, to the pushing portion 12, so that the latter translatesin response to the output of the motor 10.

By translating, the pushing portion 12 exerts the transversal thrustupon the door 4.

More in detail, the pushing portion 12 exerts the thrust by means of anarm 14, which is coupled to the door 4 and to the pushing portion 12.

More precisely, the arm 14 is fixed to the door 4.

In particular, the assembly 11 comprises a structure 15 to which the arm14 is hinged. More in particular, the structure 15 is fixed relative tothe body 2.

The pushing portion 12 is preferably carried by the structure 15.

The arm 14 comprises an end 14 a fixed to the door 4 and an end 14 bhinged to the structure 15 around a hinge axis B transversal, moreprecisely orthogonal to the direction A.

The coupling of the pushing portion 12 to the arm 14 is such that thetranslation of the pushing portion 12 along the direction A causes therotation of the arm 14 around the axis B.

Namely, the arm 14 rotates in response to the translation of the pushingportion 12.

For example, the pushing portion 12 can be fixed to the arm 14.

The pushing portion 12 is coupled to the arm 14 in an intermediateposition between the ends 14 a, 14 b.

Therefore, by translating along the direction A, the pushing portion 12pushes the arm 14 at the intermediate position. By so doing, the arm 14rotates around the axis B, thus pushing the door 4.

The arm 14 preferably has a curved or hook-like shape. In other words,the shape of the arm 14 is such that the thrust of the pushing portion12 along the axis A in the area of the intermediate portion correspondsto a transversal thrust exerted upon the door 4 in the area of the end14 a.

The operation of the motor vehicle 1 is described by FIGS. 3 and 4 .

In FIG. 3 , the door 4 is in the closed configuration. When the user Uor a suitable electronic device issues the opening request command, thedevice 7 receives the opening request command.

At this point, the control unit ECU identifies the receipt of theopening request command and controls the opening device 5.

The opening device 5 is controlled so as to move the door 4 to theintermediate presenter configuration. Then, the user U can move the door4 until it reaches the open configuration, which is shown in FIG. 4 .

The opening device 5 does not prevent the opening configuration frombeing reached, as shown in FIG. 4 . Indeed, the pushing portion 12 cankeep translating from a position corresponding to the intermediatepresenter configuration towards a position corresponding to the openconfiguration and vice versa.

The control unit ECU can even control the opening device 5 so as to movethe door 4 to the open—more precisely, completely open—configuration bymeans of the motor 10, without interventions of the user U.

Hence, the opening device 5 controlled by the control unit ECU canaccompany the movement of the door 4 pushed by the user U, specificallythrough the motor 10.

The closing of the door 4 can take place by means of the opening device5 in a reverse manner compared to the opening of the door 4.

Namely, the control unit ECU can control the opening device 5 so as toclose the door 4.

The closing of the door 4, in a reverse manner relative to the openingof the door 4, could also be considered in an independent mannerrelative to the opening of the door 4. In other words, the control unitECU could control the opening device 5 so as to close the door 4 in anindependent manner relative to the control of the opening device 5 toopen the door 4.

During the closing, the motor 10 can be controlled so as to adjust theclosing speed of the door 4. For example, the control unit ECU cancontrol the motor 10 so that the closing speed of the door 4 is limitedby a maximum value, which can be predetermined or selected by the userU. For example, the order of magnitude of the maximum value is 0.8rad/s.

In particular, the control unit ECU can control a gradual closing of thedoor 4 by means of the opening device 5, without intervention of theuser U, especially from the intermediate presenter configuration towardsthe closed configuration.

Hence, the closing could take place in two distinct and independenttimes: a first movement from the opening configuration to theintermediate presenter configuration and a second movement from theintermediate presenter configuration to the closed configuration.

Owing to the above, the advantages of the motor vehicle 1 according tothe invention are evident.

The opening and, if necessary, the closing of the door 4 take place inan extremely simple and safe fashion, as well as in a semi-automaticmanner.

The lack of handles or apprehensible portions on the surface 4 b isadvantageous both in aesthetic terms and in technical terms. Inparticular, the aerodynamic of the motor vehicle 1 benefits from thislack. Furthermore, theft-related safety is increased as well. Inaddition, the shape of the door 4 is necessarily simplified.

Finally, the motor vehicle 1 according to the invention can be subjectedto changes and variants, which, though, do not go beyond the scope ofprotection set forth in the appended claims.

1. A motor vehicle (1) comprising: a body (2), a side door (4) hinged to the body (2) in a manner to be rotatable about an axis towards a side of the motor vehicle (1) between a closed configuration and an open configuration; a motorized opening device (5), which is controllable to move the door (4) from the closed configuration towards the open configuration; command receiving means (7) to receive an opening request command for the door (4) from the outside of the motor vehicle (1); and a control unit (ECU) configured to control the opening device (5) so that the door (4) rotates from the closed configuration towards the open configuration in response to the opening request command.
 2. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the door (4) externally lacks apprehensible portions suitable for allowing a user (U) to grasp the door (4) and consequently rotate the door (4) from the closed configuration towards the open configuration.
 3. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (ECU) is configured to control the opening device (5) in response to the opening request command so that the door (4) rotates from the closed configuration to an intermediate presenter configuration between the open configuration and the closed configuration.
 4. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the command receiving means (7) comprise a member being touchable from the outside of the motor vehicle (1).
 5. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the command receiving means (7) comprise an electromagnetic signal receiver.
 6. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the opening device (5) comprises a motor (10) controllable by the control unit (ECU); and a pushing assembly (11) operable by the motor (10) to exert a transversal thrust upon the door (4); wherein the pushing assembly (11) comprises at least one thrust portion (12), which is movable, through translation, along a straight direction (A); a transmission configured to transmit an output of the motor (10) to the thrust portion (12) so that the thrust portion (12) translates in response to the output of the motor (10), thereby exerting said thrust.
 7. The motor vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the straight direction (A) substantially extends along a forward moving direction of the motor vehicle (1).
 8. The motor vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the pushing assembly (11) comprises a fixed structure (15) and a curved arm (14), the arm (14) comprising a first end (14 a), which is fixed to the door (4); and a second end (14 b), which is hinged to the structure (15) about a hinge axis (B) transversal to the straight direction (A), wherein the thrust portion (12) is coupled to the arm (14) so that the arm (14) rotates in response to a translation of the thrust portion (12). 